Engineering:Lancair ES

From HandWiki
Short description: American light aircraft
ES
Lancair-SuperES.jpg
Lancair Super ES
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lancair
Status Production completed in 2012
Number built 90 (2011)
Developed from Lancair IV
Variants Cessna 400
Lancair Mako

The Lancair ES is an American amateur-built aircraft that was designed and produced by Lancair. While it was in production the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1][2]

Super ES at Sun 'n Fun 2006

Production of the aircraft kit was ended in 2012.[3]

Design and development

The aircraft features a cantilever low wing, a four-seat enclosed cabin that is 46 in (117 cm) wide, fixed tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from composites. Its 35.5 ft (10.8 m) span wing employs a McWilliams RXM5-217 airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a NACA 64-212 at the wingtip. The wing has an area of 140 sq ft (13 m2) and mounts flaps. The aircraft's recommended engine power range is 210 to 310 hp (157 to 231 kW) and standard engines used include the 310 hp (231 kW) Continental IO-550 four-stroke powerplant. Construction time from the supplied kit is estimated to be 2000 hours.[1][4]

When equipped with the 310 hp (231 kW) Continental IO-550-N the design was referred to as the Lancair Super ES. This was same powerplant used in the Columbia 300 and 350.[5]

In July 2016 the company announced it would be selling the older Lancair lines of aircraft to concentrate on the Lancair Evolution instead. Once the transition is complete the company will change its name to the Evolution Aircraft Company.[6]

Operational history

By December 2011, 90 examples had been completed and flown.[1] At least two examples have utilized custom engine mounts to allow installation of Lycoming IO-540 engines.[7]

Specifications (Super ES)

Data from Kitplanes[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: three passengers
  • Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
  • Wing area: 140 sq ft (13 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,550 lb (1,610 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 105 U.S. gallons (400 L; 87 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental IO-550 six cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 310 hp (230 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 215 mph (346 km/h, 187 kn)
  • Stall speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
  • Range: 1,400 mi (2,300 km, 1,200 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 25.4 lb/sq ft (124 kg/m2)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 59. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. Popular Science: 93. March 1995. 
  3. Lancair (2012). "Our Aircraft". http://lancair.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145&Itemid=140. Retrieved 15 November 2012. 
  4. Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". http://www.ae.illinois.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. Retrieved 15 November 2012. 
  5. "Lancair ES/Super ES/ES-P". https://www.planeandpilotmag.com/article/lancair-essuper-es-es-p/. Retrieved 10 April 2019. 
  6. "Lancair To Sell Legacy Assets In Favor Of Evolution Series - AVweb flash Article". avweb.com. July 29, 2016. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Lancair-To-Sell-Legacy-Assets-In-Favor-Of-Evolution-Series-226710-1.html. Retrieved 30 July 2016. 
  7. "List of Lancair ES Builders". Lancair-builders.com. 2002-08-13. Archived from the original on 2013-09-13. https://archive.today/20130913225347/http://www.lancair-builders.com/es/builders.html. Retrieved 2013-09-14.